Cheam Band Blockades CN Railway
Band Blocks CN Mainline
corporate scum news report
Oct 03, 2003 - 11:29:12 AM
The Cheam Indian Band near Chiliwack has blockaded the C.N. Rail mainline into Vancouver over a logging dispute.
Former Band Chief June Quipp says the Band is protesting logging in the Elk Creek area which has been going on for 12 days.
She says the logging will facilitate road access to a proposed ski resort near Mount Cheam.
Quipp says the Band hasn't been consulted and couldn't get satisfaction any other way, "We tried talking to Kerry Grozier from Ministry of Forests who is the District Manager. Some people actually went up the mountain to stop the logging. None of that helped. They're just going to go ahead with it."
Quipp says the Band threw up the blockade to draw attention to their problem. The Band last blockaded the C.N. Rail line that runs through their Reserve in 1993. That blockade lasted six days.
Arrests Made in Rail Blockade
corporate scum news report
Oct 03, 2003 - 12:46:08 AM
The Cheam Band is blockading the C.N. Rail line stopping traffic on the tracks from getting to and from Vancouver.
Former Band Chief June Quipp says the band is protesting logging in the Elk Creek area which has been going on for 12 days.
Quipp says she knows of at least two arrests that have been made. Her husband and daughter have been taken into custody by RCMP who number about 20.
She says the logging will facilitate road access to a proposed ski resort near Mount Cheam. Quipp says the Band hasn't been consulted and couldn't get satisfaction any other way so they are targetting the rail line to draw attention to the issue.
Another Cheam blockade on CN Rail line
corporate scum news report
Oct 03, 2003 - 09:55:07 AM
For the second day running, members of the Aboriginal movement have blockaded the CN main line east of Chilliwack.
About a dozen protesters arrived at the site this morning, erecting a barricade across the tracks at the point where they pass through the Cheam reserve at Rosedale.
Another blockade was set up Thursday night, where several people were detained and then released by authorities.
The group has been protesting nearby logging operations to build a road to a proposed ski resort near Mount Cheam, by parking at least one truck on the tracks and holding up eight or nine trains.
For the moment, RCMP are waiting to see what develops and no move has been made to remove the barricades.
Elk Creek loggers could face roadblocks
First Nations, environmentalists vow to stop logging in B.C. watershed
By Stephen Hui
CUP British Columbia Bureau
September 29, 2003
BURNABY, B.C. -- Although logging has already begun at Elk Creek, opponents say they won't back down without a fight.
First Nations and environmentalists attach great value to this rainforest, about 10 kilometres east of Chilliwack, British Columbia, and are vowing to escalate their protests in a last ditch effort to stop the logging. That could mean blockades, according to a former chief of the Cheam Nation.
"Quite often, we find the quickest way to resolve anything is through direct action," said elder June Quipp.
The Cheam are part of the Pilalt Tribe whose territory covers not only the Elk Creek watershed, but also a large part of the Fraser Valley and surrounding mountains. They maintain that any logging, as well as the development of a proposed ski resort, within their Aboriginal title lands must have their permission.
"They have not got our consent to start developing the mountain," Quipp said. "And, when it's that big an impact, the highest court in Canada says they have to have our consent. Otherwise, they are breaking the law and it's theft in the highest degree."
Two cut blocks covering 110 hectares are slated for partial logging by Cattermole Timber. Chilliwack forest district manager Kerry Grozier, who was not available for comment at press time, approved the company's logging plan.
In a report detailing the reasons for his decision, Grozier says the plan "adequately manages and conserves the forest resources to which is applies." The report also claims sufficient consultation with First Nations occurred in the form of correspondence, field trips, and meetings.
The Cheam Nation disagrees. "The consultation they use is not meaningful," Quipp said. "They put the process in motion, but that's all it is. We might as well not even talk for the amount of consideration we get."
For the Cheam, Elk Creek is the site of just one of many land disputes in the Pilalt Territory. The Ch-lhl-kway-uhk Tribe, Soowahlie First Nation, and Stó:lõ Nation also assert that the watershed lies within their territories and is subject to their Aboriginal rights and title.
"These issues have been ongoing since contact," said Denise Aleck, a Cheam researcher and band member.
Elk Mountain is only one of the summits overlooking the village of Cheam.
"They're all just part of our life," Quipp said, "and we don't differentiate between any of them as being part of our territory and areas that are sacred to us."
"It's left a lot of disheartened people," Aleck said, "and from what I can see it's not just our community -- it's non-Native local residents as well."
Environmentalists are calling for the creation of a protected area around Elk Creek, subject to First Nations' consent. They say the forest is a habitat for four endangered species and boasts the tallest old growth trees remaining in the Fraser Valley.
According to Joe Foy, national campaign coordinator of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, logging is going ahead despite the public outcry generated by its proposal.
"They got several hundred -- just under 1,000 -- responses," Foy said, "and virtually all the responses asked them not to log the area."
Over 500 people visited the watershed this year in weekend tours organised by a local environmental group.
"So, we thought once again we had proven beyond doubt that there was a huge interest in this place to be left as it is," said Gabriella Friesen, a member of the Elk Creek Conservation Coalition. "Then we were absolutely shocked to come back from holidays in August and find that there had been an announcement to approve logging."
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